Brake operated shift lock

Abstract

A gear selector lock structure is provided and is operative to unlock the gear selector of a vehicle against movement from the non-drive position to the drive position thereof when the lock structure is in the locked position. The lock structure is spring biased toward the locked position and an electric solenoid is operatively associated with the gear lock structure for shifting the latter from the locked position to the unlocked position when the solenoid is electrically actuated. The solenoid is electrically connected to the brake light circuit of the associated vehicle and is, therefore, actuated when the brake pedal of the vehicle is moved from the brake release position to the brake applied position. The gear selector of the associated vehicle and the lock structure include coacting structure whereby the gear selector may cam the lock structure from the locked position thereof to the unlocked position and thereafter release the lock structure for movement to the locked position upon movement of the gear selector from the drive position to the non-drive position in which the gear selector is locked until such time as the brake pedal of the associated vehicle is depressed to activate the solenoid and thereby cause the lock structure to be shifted from the locked position to the unlocked position thereof.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 
     
       1. In combination with a vehicle including a steering column and gear selector means mounted on said column for movement between a non-drive position and a forward drive position, wheel brake operating means shiftable between brake applied and brake release positions, brake light operating electrical circuit means for actuating a brake light when closed and terminating operation of said brake light when open, means operatively connecting said wheel brake operating means and said electrical circuit means for closing the latter upon shifting of said wheel brake operating means from said brake release position toward said brake applied position, gear selector movement lock means shiftable between locked and unlocked positions and operative to lock and unlock said gear selector means against movement from said non-drive position to said forward drive position when in said locked and unlocked positions, respectively, and lock means shifting means operative to shift said lock means to said unlocked position and locked position in response to said circuit means being closed and opened, respectively, said lock means shifting means including means yieldingly biasing said lock means to said locked position and solenoid means operative to shift said lock means from said locked position to said unlocked position, latch means operative, independent of said lock means shifting means, for manually releasably latching said lock means in said unlocked position thereof, said gear selector means and said lock means including coacting means operative to cam said lock means from said locked position to said unlocked position and thereafter release said lock means for movement to said locked position upon movement of said gear selector means from said forward drive position to said non-drive position. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 4 wherein said lock means shifting means includes means yieldingly biasing said lock means to said locked position and solenoid means operative to shift said lock means from said locked position to said unlocked position. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 4 wherein said vehicle includes a fire wall through which said steering column extends, said gear selector movement lock means being disposed on the engine side of said fire wall. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3 including a mounting bracket mounted on the engine side of said fire wall, said gear selector lock means being shiftably supported from said mounting bracket. 
     
     
       5. In combination with a vehicle including a steering column and gear selector means mounted on said column for movement between a non-drive position and a forward drive position, wheel brake operating shiftable between brake applied and brake release positions, brake light operating electrical circuit means for actuating a brake light when closed and terminating operation of said brake light when open, means operatively connecting said wheel brake operating means and said electrical circuit means for closing the latter upon shifting of said wheel brake operating means from said brake release position toward said brake applied position, gear selector movement lock means shiftable between locked and unlocked positions and operative to lock and unlock said gear selector means against movement from said non-drive position to said forward drive position when in said locked and unlocked positions, respectively, lock means shifting means operative to shift said lock means to said unlocked position and locked position in response to said circuit means being closed and opened, respectively, said vehicle including a fire wall through which said steering column extends, said gear selector movement lock means being disposed on the engine side of said fire wall, a mounting bracket mounted on the engine side of said fire wall, said gear selector lock means being shiftably supported from said mounting bracket, said lock means shifting means including means yieldingly biasing said lock means to said locked position and solenoid means operative to shift said lock means from said locked position to said unlocked position, latch means operative, independent of said lock means shifting means, for manually releasably latching said lock means in said unlocked position thereof, said latch means being supported from said lock means and releasably engageable with said bracket to lock said lock means in said unlocked position. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said solenoid means is supported from said mounting bracket.